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Reise TourRad: First Impressions

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The Resie tourRad adventure touring tyre range is aimed at riders who spend most of their time on highways and twisty roads, with occasional off-road use. The new tourRad range uses a radial construction for the rear tyres, while the both front TourR tyre options use a bias-ply construction. For this ride experience, the rear tourRad and front tourR tyres were equipped on a bunch of Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 s and one Triumph Scrambler 400 X as well. There are two non-radial front tyre options including a 100/90-19 and a 90/90-21 while the rear gets radials for 17inch rims in five different sizes. We got to do a Mumbai-Lonavala round trip of around 200kms with these tyres to get an understanding of how they perform. Considering that the tyres were brand new, I started off slowly as they needed some scrubbing in to get to their potential. Despite being brand new, our stint of getting out of the city felt good, with the bike feeling stable and offering good grip while filtering ...

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Road-tripping with supercars in Jaisalmer: Sand blasting

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Think bucket list driving destinations, and you probably picture yourself driving up the Stelvio Pass, cruising down California’s Pacific Coast Highway, or going banzai on the Touge routes around Tokyo. But we don’t usually appreciate the incredible journeys we can make right here in India the same way. Part of the reason is that they come with their own challenges – inconsistent road quality, unpredictable fuel stops, and the hesitation of taking a low-slung supercar far from the safety net of the city. For Zain Rais and The Supercar Route, that hesitation is exactly the problem they’re trying to solve. Europe’s finest exotics revelling on India’s finest tarmac. Zain has spent years driving some of the world’s greatest roads – from South Africa’s Garden Route to California’s Highway 101, and across Europe through Germany’s Black Forest and beyond. "After doing all of that," he says, "I realised we have roads in India that are just as special, but we don’t explore t...

Opinion: How distinct sub-brands can benefit the mother brand

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One of the discussions on social media about the Renault Duster (re)launch is that the front grille carries only the Duster name and no Renault logo. People are debating the pros and cons. Are people going to buy it because it is a Duster, not a Renault? Has Renault played it right or put too much focus on just a product name? This is the classic sub-brand strategy. We have some examples already, like in the two-wheeler world, there’s Bajaj ’s Pulsar and TVS ’ Apache. Product names that have been elevated into strong sub-brands with the capability of finding their own consumer mind space. These companies have invested heavily in these brands, in terms of product portfolio, customer ecosystem and communication, and Mahindra has gone on record to say that not just the Thar, but the Scorpio and the XUV line would grow into their own sub-brands as well, à la JLR’s Defender , Range Rover et al.  In some markets, Toyota has a specific badge for the entire line-up offered under the...

Triumph Scrambler 400 XC long-term review, 3,000km report

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In my last report , I said that I find the Scrambler XC to be best billed as a city bike, but ironically, that’s where my motorcycle has spent the least time so far. Instead, as was always intended, I have been spending most of my time with the bike out on highways and even on off-road trails, although admittedly, it is neither an outright tourer nor an off-road machine. Upright riding position and wide handlebars make for comfortable ergonomics. My only real gripe with the Scrambler XC is its short gearing, as it uses a 14-tooth front sprocket as opposed to the 15-tooth setup on the Speed 400 . Out on the highway, cruising at an indicated 100kph with the rev counter clocking about 6,000rpm, the bike already feels like it’s at the edge of its sweet spot. Pull harder, and the engine will reward you with more poke, but it doesn’t feel relaxed doing so. In fact, when the needle is ticking at 100kph, you’re actually doing 90kph, as there’s a good 10kph speedo error.  Well-padded...

Outgoing Skoda Kushaq gets discounts of up to Rs 3 lakh in April 2026

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Skoda is offering lucrative benefits on the outgoing Kushaq of up to Rs 3 lakh. This includes cash discounts, exchange bonus, and either corporate or loyalty benefits. Additionally, other models in Skoda's lineup, like the Kodiaq, Slavia, and the Kylaq, are also available with attractive offers for the period of April 2026.  Disclaimer: Discounts vary from city to city and are subject to stock availability. Check with your local dealership for exact figures. Skoda Kushaq discounts in April 2026 Up to Rs 3 lakh off For the outgoing MY25 Kushaq, Skoda is offering benefits of up to Rs 3 lakh. This includes a cash discount of Rs 2 lakh, exchange bonus of Rs 50,000, and a corporate/loyalty benefit of Rs 50,000. The outgoing Kushaq had a last recorded ex-showroom price range of Rs 10.61 lakh to Rs 18.43 lakh. Moreover, even the early MY26 units of the Kushaq are getting benefits of up to Rs 1.05 lakh. This comprises a cash discount of Rs 30,000, an exchange bonus of  Rs 25,...

New Suzuki Burgman price and variants explained

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The Suzuk i Burgman Street has been recently unveiled in updated form and is now based on a new platform derived from the Suzuki Access. It continues to be offered in two variants, with differences centred around features and tech. Here’s what each variant gets, along with prices. Suzuki Burgman Street variant breakdown Ride Connect Edition Before diving into the differences, let’s first look at what’s common. Both variants of the Burgman Street are powered by the same 124cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine and share this updated platform. The maxi-style design, relaxed ergonomics and practicality remain key highlights, with Suzuki also increasing underseat storage capacity as part of this update. The Ride Connect variant is the base model and comes equipped with a Bluetooth-enabled LCD display that supports smartphone connectivity features such as call/SMS alerts and turn-by-turn navigation prompts. It is offered in five single-tone colour options - Metallic Royal Bronze, Pe...

Toyota unveils the 2026 Yaris Cross facelift

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Six years after making its global debut, the Yaris Cross compact SUV has been unveiled in its latest avatar. While Toyota carried out a comprehensive update in 2024, this facelift is mostly minor. Aimed mainly at the European market, the 2026 Toyota Yaris Cross facelift brings revised exterior and interior details, while continuing to be based on the automaker’s TNGA-B platform. Facelift brings a revised front fascia, new colours and wheel designs More features added across trim levels Will be available with just one powertrain option  2026 Toyota Yaris Cross facelift: Exterior Most of the visual updates are concentrated at the front One of the most obvious updates on the exterior of the Yaris Cross facelift is noticeable at the front. The small and narrow grill of the old car has been replaced by a new honeycomb design that is body-coloured and better integrated into the fascia. The tweaked angular headlamps get sharper-looking lighting elements, and the new front bumpe...

KTM 890 Adventure R review: Wild style

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Some motorcycles hijack the imagination more than most, and the KTM 790 Adventure R (now the 890) has always had a special place in my motorcycling bucket list. Having finally spent a week with it, including some off-roading and a long ride down to Goa, this is easily one of the most intoxicating motorcycles I’ve ridden, even if it has more than a few drawbacks. The easiest way to understand this motorcycle is to think of it as somewhere in between an ADV and an enduro-style dirt bike – a big-capacity travel enduro, if you will. Yes, it will tour and it’ll commute as well, but those are mere side quests in the storyline. This bike was born to be as off-road capable as something this big could be and its design tells you as much. It’s an awkward-looking thing from some angles and a beast from others. The famous underslung fuel tanks make up a sizable part of the design but play an even bigger role in the riding experience. Tucking 20 litres of fuel low along the sides has a beau...

Mahindra XUV 7XO vs Tata Safari: Diesel AT performance compared

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The Mahindra XUV 7XO and Tata Safari are both midsize SUVs with seating for up to 7 occupants. While they are offered with petrol and diesel engines with manual and automatic transmission options, we will be focusing on their respective diesel-automatic versions here. Let us find out which one of these two home-grown SUVs offers better performance in the real world. Mahindra XUV 7XO vs Tata Safari diesel AT: Specifications The XUV 7XO’s displacement advantage becomes clear out on the open road Mahindra XUV 7XO vs Tata Safari diesel AT: Engine specifications   Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel AT Tata Safari diesel AT Engine 4 cyls, turbocharged diesel 4 cyls, turbocharged diesel Displacement (cc) 2184 1956 Power (hp) 185 170 Torque (Nm) 450 350 Under the bonnet of the Tata Safari diesel is a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that produces 170hp and 350Nm of torque. However, the Safari’s oil burner has a displacement that is...

Every three-row EV under Rs 30 lakh in India

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EVs have been populating every segment of the Indian car market, and the all-electric three-row space has gained new contenders in recent years. On the mass-market side, three-row EVs are popular mostly for their spacious cabins, good refinement, long feature lists and low running costs. To that end, we’ve listed every three-row EV in India that you can buy for under Rs 30 lakh. Kia Carens Clavis EV Price: Rs 17.99 lakh-24.99 lakh Kia’s first all-electric offering for the Indian mass market, the Carens Clavis EV , is currently the most affordable three-row EV. It is available with 42kWh (135hp) and 51.4kWh (171hp) battery options, both mated to a 255Nm front-mounted motor. The claimed Carens Clavis EV range is 404km for the 42kWh variants and 490km for the 51.4kWh battery version; the latter achieved an average real-world range of 364km in our testing. As our Kia Carens Clavis EV review notes, the electric MPV feels premium thanks to features such as Level 2 ADAS, twin 12.3-in...

TVS posts best-ever two-wheeler sales in a fiscal year at 4.24 million units

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TVS Motor Co has raced into FY2027 on a really powerful note. The Hosur-based manufacturer sold a record 4.24 million two-wheelers in FY2026, up 21 percent (FY2025: 3.51 million units). This comprises 2.30 million scooters (up 18 percent YoY), 1.41 million motorcycles (up 7 percent YoY) and 5,23,240 mopeds (up 4 percent YoY). With this stellar performance, FY2026 is now the new fiscal-year benchmark for TVS, beating the previous best of 3.51 million units in FY2025. Similar to FY2025, the strong 27 percent growth in scooters has powered overall numbers. Scooters the big growth driver for TVS TVS, which has the Jupiter , NTorq and Zest in its ICE scooter stable, along with the iQube and Orbiter EVs, sold a record 2.30 million scooters, up 27 percent YoY (FY2025: 1.81 million units). Year-on-year, TVS sold an additional 4,89,958 units, which has helped increase its scooter share to 28 percent from the 26 percent it had in FY2025. While the three petrol-engined scooters have tog...

Delhi EV policy could add 6 lakh electric two-wheelers by 2029

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CRISIL has released an impact assessment of Delhi's draft Electric Vehicle Policy 2026-2030, which proposes banning new petrol two-wheelers from April 2028. The research firm believes this policy could significantly boost India’s overall EV penetration, even though Delhi represents a relatively small share of the country’s vehicle market. Delhi EV policy could add 6 lakh electric two-wheelers to national sales Pan-India electric two-wheeler penetration expected to reach 21-23 percent by FY29 Draft policy open for public feedback until May 10 CRISIL EV penetration projections CRISIL estimates nearly 6 lakh electric two-wheelers will be added to national sales In an impact note released on Tuesday, CRISIL said the draft Delhi EV Policy 2026-2030 could push pan-India electric two-wheeler penetration to 21-23 percent by FY2029, compared to 18-20 percent without the policy. This projection is based on the proposal to ban new ICE two-wheelers from April 1, 2028. The firm also n...

BYD India to hike prices by up to 3 percent from May

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BYD India will hike prices of its cars by up to 3 percent from May 1, 2026. Depending on the model, prices will go up by 2 to 3 percent, which translates to an approximate increase of Rs 50,000 at the low end and around Rs 1.7 lakh at the high end. The turbulent conditions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz in the Middle East is a major factor behind BYD’s upcoming price hike. Meanwhile, Hyundai has also announced a price hike of up to 1 percent for May. from Autocar India https://ift.tt/NqKeO8g

Volkswagen Taigun vs Hyundai Creta: top trim features compared

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With its April 2026 facelift, the Volkswagen Taigun gains a longer list of features. But is that enough to take on the midsize SUV segment's bestseller, the Hyundai Creta ? We compare the top-spec Taigun GT Plus Sport with the Creta King on paper to find out. VW Taigun GT Plus Sport vs Hyundai Creta King: Exterior VW Taigun GT Plus Sport vs Hyundai Creta King: Exterior   Taigun GT Plus Sport Creta King LED headlamps Yes Yes LED DRLs Yes Yes LED Tail-lamps Yes Yes Front fog lamps No No Alloy wheel size (in) 17 18 Rear spoiler Yes Yes Electrically adjustable ORVMs Yes Yes Shark-fin antenna Yes Yes Roof rails Yes Yes Rain-sensing wipers Yes Yes Rear wiper and washer Yes Yes Powered tailgate No No Keyless entry Yes Yes The Hyundai and VW SUVs are closely matched on the exterior features front, offerings LED headlights and tail lights, electrically adjustable ORVMs, roof rails, rain-sensing wipers, and ...